The Best Tips for New Divers from a PADI Master Instructor

There are few experiences that are as exciting as learning to dive. If you are one of the few lucky enough to discover this, I'm sure you will agree that the feeling of being underwater is something quite unique. With many years of teaching new divers under my belt, I have come to realize that most beginners find just being in the water intimidating, so I am going to give you some helpful tips to ensure that you get the most out of your diving experience with Abyss Scuba without having to go through the school of hard knocks that I did.

Buy a mask that fits you correctly.
We know there’s nothing more annoying than having a mask that constantly leaks. So why waste energy and air on constantly having to clear your mask, when you can actually invest a little bit of money in on that fits your face like a glove, one that you know no one before you has spat in, one that you think looks great on you! Get an experience dive instructor not a shop assistant to fit the mask to your face.
Do not wear any excess weight.
Divers who wear excess weight have to expend more energy. They usually find themselves having to keep adjusting the inflate of their BCD in an attempt to control it. Too much weight forces divers to work harder just to move around underwater. As a result, they use up their air faster.Instead, do a PADI Peak Performancy Buoyancy course. It will help you control your buoyancy better.
Keep your Logbook up to date.
The logbook is not only as good as a memory, but it is necessary to recall information regarding your equipment. How many weights were you wearing, what thickness was your wetsuit? These things can certainly be forgotten, especially if you're not a regularly diving. So when you find the perfect amount of weight - write it down! Your future self will thank you, believe me.
Respect the limits of your training and experience
Never go deeper than you are trained to go, do not stay longer than your air or No Decompression Limit allows. The worst predicament you can ever find yourself in is getting caught in a situation that you are not trained nor having experience with. False sense of security can also be an issue, if you do not know the potential hazards of the dive you are doing, you will surely be ill equipped to handle any situation that might occur.
Dive dive dive and dive some more
Not only will you improve the more you dive, but you will also enjoy it more. After all, practice makes perfect! If you are in Sydney, then you are in the perfect position to constantly improve your diving skills. Abyss Scuba Diving offers guided shore dives once a week. And if you are out of the water for a while, take a refresher course.
Go on more courses!
The Open Water Course is an excellent beginner course that will give you your certification to go scuba diving on your own! But the course is only touching the surface on what you know, can discover. So continue your training, take the Advanced Open Water Course, a peak performance buoyancy course, try night diving, try enriched air diving! These various kinds of dives will provide you a chance to learn more about what kind of scuba diver you would like to be, while at the same time making you a better diver.

As a PADI Master Instructor and Course Director, I have been able to share my passion for Scuba diving with thousands of people over the years. I have witnessed the transformation that occurs in people as they discover for themselves the beauty of Scuba. I want to share my enthusiasm for Scuba diving to anyone who is willing to experience the freedom, excitement and relaxation that only Scuba diving can provide.